Labor and Civil Society: "People Power Party Admits to Treason Conspiracy... Impeachment Must Be Reinitiated" (Comprehensive)

Minju Nochong "Traitors Must Be Punished"
Hanguk Nochong "Be Ashamed Before History"

The labor and civil society sectors criticized the ruling party People Power Party on the 7th for admitting to being accomplices in the insurrection after the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol failed due to a lack of the required quorum.

Citizens are urging the impeachment of President Yoon in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) stated in a press release that day, "The People Power Party has ultimately betrayed the will of the people. They did not even participate in the vote, and the ruling party members walked out," adding, "The people witnessed a regression of democracy today. And they clearly saw with their own eyes who the accomplices of the insurrection are."

The KCTU said, "The People Power Party must be dismantled. The traitorous group protecting the insurrectionist Yoon Suk-yeol must be punished," and warned, "If they dream of an orderly resignation through a constitutional amendment to shorten the term by making a moderate compromise, they are greatly mistaken. By the stern judgment of the enraged people, Yoon Suk-yeol, his cohorts, and the People Power Party will face a miserable end."

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) said, "The People Power Party protected Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of the insurrection who trampled on democracy and declared an unconstitutional emergency martial law," and added, "They chose to cling to the power of the president and the ruling party at all costs, rather than the future of the Republic of Korea and its people."

The FKTU stated, "The People Power Party's choice today to maintain the presidency of the great traitor who instigated the insurrection instead of punishing him will be recorded in history and remembered for a long time. They should be ashamed before history and the people," and emphasized, "Today is not the end. Push for the impeachment motion again and again until it passes. We will stand with the people in front of the National Assembly."

Citizens are urging the impeachment of President Yoon in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) criticized, "The People Power Party, accomplices in the insurrection who ignored the people's mandate, should be disbanded," pointing out that "except for lawmakers Kim Sang-wook, Kim Ye-ji, and Ahn Cheol-soo, members of the People Power Party boycotted the vote, ignoring multiple appeals from National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik to participate."

PSPD said, "The people no longer recognize Yoon Suk-yeol, who damaged the democracy and constitutional order of the Republic of Korea, as the president," and urged, "Insurrectionist Yoon Suk-yeol should not confront the people but immediately resign. The National Assembly must take measures again to hold the insurrection ringleader Yoon Suk-yeol constitutionally and legally accountable."

The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) stated, "The People Power Party, which caused the impeachment to fail, will be judged again before the constitution and the people," and said, "The National Assembly must reveal the truth through a parliamentary audit and special investigation and push for reintroducing the impeachment motion."

CCEJ added, "The act of forcibly violating the authority of constitutional institutions by mobilizing military forces constitutes the crimes of insurrection and rebellion and cannot be justified under any pretext," and criticized, "The People Power Party neglected its duty to uphold the constitution by not holding those responsible for this serious unconstitutional act accountable. This is a betrayal of the people's trust."

Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, is being protested by opposition party members as he leaves the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the 7th, the National Assembly proceeded with the vote on the presidential impeachment motion, but it failed due to a lack of the required quorum. Only 195 out of 300 total members participated in the vote. As a result, the counting was not conducted, and the impeachment motion was automatically discarded. The motion requires two-thirds of the total members (200 out of 300) to approve it. The People Power Party members walked out before the vote, but lawmakers Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Ye-ji, and Kim Sang-wook voted according to their conscience.

Earlier, President Yoon apologized for the emergency martial law situation in a national address and said, "I will leave the issue of my term and future political stability measures to our party."